Title: Assumption is dangerous

Author: Fans1024

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Without a Trace, CBS and other rich, clever people do.

Authors note: Massive thank you to my beta anmodo

Chapter 1

It had been a tough case. They'd found the missing 6 year old girl dead in a dumpster, in the alley just outside the family's apartment. It turned out that, Elise's father had been abusing her for months and had finally killed her. Danny sighed and ran his hand through his hair; he was doing some overdue paperwork, pointless but a distraction from the feeling the urge to drink. It was these cases that made him feel so weak, so helpless, so angry, so…... A voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Danny what are you still doing here? You know that paperwork will still be here tomorrow?"

He looked up to see one of his most trusted and closest friends, Samantha Spade. "Well I could ask you the same question."

"Danny, it wasn't your fault. There was nothing any of us could do."

He looked away so she wouldn't see the weakness in his eyes. "I know, Sam, I know. But it still isn't right; the bastard just dumped her like a piece of trash"

Sam stood behind him and rubbed his shoulders. She knew how much these cases affected the whole team, especially Danny. The cases involving kids always affected him and if the cases ended with a death, well he wouldn't say anything about it, but she knew it was killing him inside. She turned to face him. "I'm hungry, are you going to let me eat alone?" she teased.

Looking down at his paperwork and then at Sam. He sighed, knowing Sam wouldn't let this go especially seeing how defeated he looked. "Ok, just give me a sec, to pack up and grab my coat."

After what felt like hours, Sam finally got Danny to leave the building. Linking her arm with his, they walked through Federal Plaza. "So where shall we eat?"

"I dunno", then realising what she was trying to do for him, he forced a smile. "But I think the beautiful lady beside me should make that decision."

Sam looked up at Danny to see him wearing a smile that didn't quite reach the eyes, but it was an improvement, from before. "How about Thai? There's a new place around the corner, I've never tried it, but I have heard it's pretty good."

'Sounds perfect', Danny replied, as he wondered just how much longer he could keep up this cheerful facade. When they arrived at the restaurant they were quickly shown a small table away from the general hubbub of the room. Danny secretly believed that Sam had planned this ahead, a good place to talk to him, but he chose not to disclose his observation. After all, Sam was only trying to help. After ordering their food, they sat in a painful silence; Danny felt Sam's eyes boring into him.

"So how's it going with you and Marty?" Danny asked trying to break the strained silence.

"We broke up,"

"Oh, um…I am really sorry Sam," damn wrong question Danny thought, "You, ok?"

"I'm fine. It's just going to be a little weird for a while that's all. What about you? Any ladies warming your bed?"

"No, not with what little time we get with our job." Danny smiled at Sam, but he knew he didn't stand a chance with Samantha Spade, well not romantically anyway. Twice bitten, thrice shy, no he would always be in the background, ready to pick up the pieces and send her on her way. When Sam had joined Jack's team they had connected from the start, both young, new to the job and piss poor excuses for families.

Finally their food arrived, and they continued to make small talk over the meal. It was around 10:30 when they left the restaurant, after Danny insisted on paying the bill, telling Sam what kind of gentleman would he be, if he let a lady pay the bill. Sam had tried not to grin at this comment, but Danny was always the perfect gentleman with her. She envied the woman that finally captured Danny's heart; she had no doubt that he would be a great father.

"You driving home?" Sam asked Danny as they walked towards the subway.

"Nah, car's busted; it's going to be in the shop for a while."

"So you're going to be riding the subway with me for a while?" replied Sam

"If you are willing to suffer me?" Danny counted, grinning.

"I guess I could survive the walk down to the station. It's lucky we live on the opposite sides of this fair city."

Before they could continue their banter, Sam's train arrived. "Danny, are you sure you're ok?" Sam said looking at him in concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine, thanks"

"See yah tomorrow then." Sam replied as the train doors closed, leaving Danny and his thoughts alone on the platform.

A few minutes later Danny's train arrived, he easily found a seat on the near empty train, and closed his eyes trying to relax on the long ride to the Bronx. He was so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he nearly missed his stop. Damn, he missed his car. He found driving so relaxing, especially this time of night when there was little traffic. Disembarking the train, he started to walk the short distance to his apartment, only pausing to buy a lollypop from a homeless guy. It was not until he reached his apartment, he realised just how tired he was. Kicking off his shoes, and throwing his jacket on a chair as he walked through his tiny apartment. Before collapsing on this couch, he locked up his gun. God he was tired, but it didn't feel like 'normal' tiredness. He felt drugged. But now he was just too tired to think about this as he collapsed into the pit of darkness. The figure waiting in the corner of the room smiled. So far every thing had gone according to plan.

Thanks for reading please review. Will update as soon as possible.